Today we’d like to introduce you to Patricia Wicks.
Hi Patricia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Patricia has always been clear about one thing – the expectations others hold for you should not define what you become in life. She experienced how expectations of others consistently lessened the possibilities for herself and others her whole life – whether it be societal norms, a well-meaning adult, hard science and data reports, or simply the limiting thoughts and beliefs held by people closest to her.
At the same time, through reading books, asking questions, and having an innate ability to take large amounts of information and discern patterns of possibility, Patricia learned that the only thing that stops one from working towards your purpose is you. Another thing is a solution to breaking free of expectations and having the capacity to believe YOU are in control. Her life is a story of resilience, determination, and a spirit of reaching for the Possible even when the eyes cannot see it nor the ears cannot hear it.
I have walked ahead when I could not see the step in front of me; with faith, courage, and determination to be and do all that I am here to be and do. My life’s mission is for all I touch – individual or agency – to have the binding of limits removed and confidently walk the journey they are here to follow. Mind you, journeys have ups and downs – ins and outs. We keep living. We keep breathing. There is more for us to do. Never stop. Take a break when needed. Never stop.
For the past 30 years, Patricia built her skills through education and experience. Professionally, she went from researcher and policy fellow studying educational leadership and governance, community capacity building, and family support initiatives at Northwestern University (received a bachelor of education and social policy in 1992) and Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago; to building a respected professional career with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago where her programs earned national awards for both girls personal development and educational development curriculums.
Both of these awards helped catapult the organization into developing girls-to-women programs and were a precursor to what is now known as high-yield learning activities and the College Bound programming that helps thousands of young people across the country find purpose and achieve their goals to this day.
During the early 1990s, a movement was afoot to professionalize youth development and out-of-school time. As a community, we were just learning the importance of the environment and recognizing that learning happens 24 hours a day, not just the six hours a child is inside the school building. We now embrace the important role that out-of-school time has in preparing a young person for in-school work.
Building the capacity to embrace what is “possible” for a young person happens outside of school. Patricia’s human development and social policy foundation informed her education-focused solutions and provides Patricia with a unique approach to engaging with young adults, adults, and agencies who work together to help young adults be successful in academics and life.
In 1998, Patricia returned to school to earn her Master of Social Work at the University of Chicago. While in school, she served as a College Bound Coordinator for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago and trained the Club staff across Greater Chicago to institute the program she developed.
Upon earning her Master, she returned to lead the James Jordan Boys and Girls Club and Family Life Center where she and her team held multi-year national awards for the highest active teen membership for five years and enjoyed seven years of growth in community engagement, youth membership, partnerships, and consistent resources.
Her team and members earned several awards in the organization and across the community during her tenure. Patricia also married and had her one and only daughter, Madilyne. Today, the Chicago network of colleagues and the many hundreds of young people still refer to Ms. Patricia as a catalyst for helping them achieve their goals; and for the love and creative engagement, she brought to all who were touched by her work.
From the beginning, Patricia challenged what “popular opinion and fact” determined was a success. She has learned that while research and sharing the results help build support for expanding possibilities of how things can be for a person; modeling the behavior we want to see is most effective.
In all that she does, Patricia works on modeling the possibilities of expanding what we expect possible and prompting individuals and organizations to open to thinking beyond current limitations to fully realize all they were made to be and do. PATHworks was formed in 2009 to foster those possibilities.
Upon returning to Northeast Ohio, Patricia sought to offer the community her unique youth development engagement and organizational development process. She built a network of colleagues and friends to continue the work of community development and youth development one person, one agency at a time. Patricia shares her passion through PATHworks. For her, the people who make up your support system are called Hope Relationships.
That is what PATHworks strives to be for all who are served. She defines Hope Relationships as the people, places, and opportunities that move us forward and hinder our progress (so we build coping skills and gain wisdom) with no intent to harm. PATHworks helps parents and grandparents help their young adults be AdultReady. and supports the adults and agencies who work with them.
As you know, we’re big fans of Patricia Smoot Wicks Consulting LLC, dba PATHworks. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
PATHworks(TM) is a youth development and family support company that helps teens be AdultReady through foundation building, personal development, and learning to engage the resources within and around them. We also support parents, other adults, and the agencies who work with their work better together through products, coaching, and consultations.
Ms. Patricia has 30 year years of experience serving nonprofit businesses, educational institutions, government agencies, and families. Since 2009 the firm has provided services to clients in four principal areas Organizational Development, Training Facilitation, Program Operations Evaluation, and Youth Development (Workforce Readiness, Post Secondary Transitions, Conflict, Resolution, Self-care Strategies, and Engagement Skills).
We focus on developing a young adult’s Purpose, Attitude, Tenacity, and Hope through academic coaching, transitions, life-after-high-school planning, conflict resolution & communication skills, self-care strategies, and relationship building. We believe XBe who you are meant to be. Do what you are here to do.
Our Vision is:
– Every Young Adult expands their expectations of what they can accomplish and realizes their purpose.
-Supportive Adults and Agencies who work on young adults’ behalf work better together.
-Hope Relationship principles guide our individual and collective work: authentic relationship with self, mutual respect, shared expectations, and continuous improvement.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pathworksohio.com
- Instagram: @pathworksohio
- Facebook: @pathworksohio
- Twitter: @pathworksohio
- Youtube: @pathworks
Image Credits
@Xposeur Photography (yourxposeur.com)
